36Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! (John 13:36-38)
You gotta love Peter. He is always the one to speak what everyone else is thinking. Bold, brash, self-confident but yet also sincere and authentic. I can’t wait to interact with him in heaven!
Jesus gives the disciples His new great command. Love one another as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are My disciples by your love for one another. One of the centerpiece statements in the Lord’s final instructions to His disciples. The clarion call to love. The beacon of light to the world. And what is Peter thinking?
“That’s nice, Lord. But let’s go back to that little statement You made before that. The part about not being able to go where You are going” (13:33).
The word “can’t” is not a word in Peter’s vocabulary. If Jesus is going somewhere, Peter is bound and determined to go there with Him….especially if Jesus is fighting a battle, facing opposition, or setting up His kingdom. Peter wants to be there in the action.
But Peter is not as strong as he thinks he is. Jesus knows it. Peter doesn’t know it…yet.
It is interesting that all four gospels mention Peter’s denial. It is obviously an event that every disciple remembers. And it is perhaps the one most crucial event in the life, transformation, and growth of Peter. Peter had to be broken of his self-confidence (rooted in pride) in order to be given a God confidence (rooted in humility). Peter had to be made weak in order to be truly strong.
It is a process that is not fun but it is usually necessary.
Here is what Jesus says in Luke’s account (Luke 22):
31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Satan was about to take Peter through the ringer. And Jesus was going to allow it. Why? Because Jesus knew that Peter needed to know that he was not as strong as he thought he was. Peter was not in control. And the battles that he would face in life were much bigger than him. Peter needed to get a full taste of his spiritual adversary so that he would recognize his absolute need to depend on the power of Christ.
Peter also needed to develop true compassion, the ability to suffer (passion) with (com) another person. Peter could not truly “strengthen his brothers” as long as he was convinced that he had it all together in life and they were all a bunch of spiritual wimps. Remember in Matthew and Mark’s accounts, Peter made it clear: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33, Mark 14:29)
So why does God often allow us to go through difficult times? To break our pride. To draw us to His side. To help us learn to rely on His power. And to give us a heart of humility, love, and compassion for others.
Lord, my pride so easily sprouts its head. I rely on myself. I struggle to let go. I criticize others. I become independent. I live a prayerless life. Help me to trust You even when the medicine is strong, even when the knife cuts deep. And may I truly love and strengthen my brothers with the love and strength that I receive from You.
